Mom Leaps From Fire

Family Safe

NEWPORT NEWS — Reginald Gatling remembers the desperate cries for help as he and his family tried to escape their burning, smoke-filled Ivy Avenue apartment early Saturday.

Gatling particularly remembers his own words.

``I remember crying out: ``I think we're going to die in here,'' the 40-year-old pipefitter said later at Sentara Hampton General Hospital, where he was being treated for smoke inhalation.

``I kind of momentarily gave up hope,'' he said.

Gatling and his four children escaped the smoke and fire. His wife, Pinkey Gatling, jumped from their second floor into neighbors' arms.

Gatling was listed in stable condition Saturday night. He spoke in a low, crackling voice and the smoke had turned his eyes bloodshot.

A gauze bandage covered burns on his left hand and four smaller bandages dotted his face.

A candle left burning in the living room started the fire, Fire Marshal Lee Ware said.

Gatling said one of their four children had lit a candle after a power outage Friday night left them without any electricity for lights - or for their smoke detectors.

A Virginia Power spokesman said the problem was in equipment that belongs to the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which owns the Ridley Place apartments in the 1600 block of Ivy Avenue.

Gatling said he was told later a chair caught fire.

Awakened by the smoke and his family's cries, Gatling carried his 10-year-old son Travis from the second-floor bedroom and down the stairs. The smoke was so heavy ``you couldn't tell where the fire was,'' Gatling said.

He said he felt his way to the kitchen, where he met a neighbor, Sam Haynes, who came in the back door after spotting the smoke and hearing the cries.

Haynes helped Gatling and Travis out. The other children, Antoine, 14, Reginald Jr., 15, Tracy, 18, had escaped moments earlier. As her husband carried their son downstairs, Pinkey Gatling opened the bedroom window and cried for help, she said.

``About 30 seconds to a minute later, five or six men had gathered outside. They raised their arms and shouted to jump,'' the 37-year-old mother said.

She jumped about 15 feet from the second story window. The neighbors caught her, and she landed on her feet.